I burst into the Adventurer’s Guild, ready to tell all my friends how cool I was. I looked left and right, but it seemed I had arrived a little late. They had already left for lunch.

I was about to leave when my eyes met Yusdrolir’s, and he started waving at me frantically.

I waved back.

「Yusdrolir: Oi! Allen!」

The dwarf made his way through the crowd. He had a worried look.

「Allen: Hi, Yusdrolir. No, I haven’t told anyone about our drunk talks.」

He grabbed my arm and dragged me outside in the cold, toward a less crowded area. He peered left and right like a paranoid conspiracy theorist.

「Allen: Looking for a tin hat?」

He stared at me, confused.

「Yusdrolir: Tin ha- What are you- No. I… I haven’t told the others because I didn’t want to worry them, but… Allen, I think you’re in danger.」

I scratched my chin.

「Allen: I’m in the capital of the kingdom and under the employ of an archmage. I think I’m pretty safe.」

The dwarf shook me.

「Yusdrolir: Ya don’t get it. I thought it had been just a bad dream, but… just a while ago an Inspector approached me asking about you! I-I thought he wanted to execute me or worse! Ancestor’s beard!」

「Allen: Is that bad? Aren’t Inspectors like the magic police?」

「Yusdrolir: Yer a mage, they hunt mages! When an Inspector comes callin’, ya better start runnin’. Whatever he wants it can’t be good…」

I scoffed.

「Allen: The military needs me, no one’s gonna touch me. As long as I keep being useful, at least. Did he say what he wanted?」

「Yusdrolir: Er… he said he wanted to ask some questions.」

Well, since Yusdrolir wasn’t being kept in a cage under torture, I guessed this Inspector was indeed only looking to ask questions. In any case, I was under Violet’s protection. And archmages are directly under the crown. I ought to be reasonably safe, even if I had done something illegal which I’m not aware of.

Did someone complain about me using magic in public?

「Allen: Well, I guess we’ll find out when I meet the guy. Where are the others?」

My projected aura of confidence calmed down the frantic dwarf a little.

「Yusdrolir: They… They headed off to lunch. I stayed behind because I wanted to warn you. Yer still in time to run and leave the city, ya know?」

Leave and go where? I’m pretty sure Violet would have me hunted down and tied to a chair. And I didn’t want to lose all my benefits.

It turned out my IT knowledge was very valuable in a fantasy world full of unreliable magic, and I was planning to milk all I could from this partnership.

Moreover, things were about to get exciting at work. I just needed to push the Great Project for approval. I thought the time was ripe.

「Allen: Don’t worry. If I get kidnapped or something, get Ellin to send a message to Violet Val Mariannet at the Academy. Let’s go have lunch.」

I was about to go, but the dwarf tugged my sleeve.

「Yusdrolir: Allen, thanks for yesterday… I see ya didn’t tell anyone of my past shames. I appreciate it.」

「Allen: No probs.」

I’m not one to break confidence. Sooner or later, he would tell them too, whether sober or drunk. Preferably, the former. We started walking.

「Yusdrolir: I need alcohol…」

「Allen: Dwarves drink too much.」

「Yusdrolir: Ha! There’s a valid reason actually. If ya would care to know.」

I gave him a doubtful look.

「Allen: Seriously?」

He nodded.

「Yusdrolir: Ya know that those uppity tree-hugging elves have such great eyesight? Well, we dwarves instead we got a good nose. Too good, in fact.」

He pinched his nose.

「Yusdrolir: Human cities… they stink! Ya see, alcohol helps to make smells more bearable. Valarest is not that bad or I’d have departed in a desperate run.」

It sounded like an excuse.

「Yusdrolir: Also, it’s so damn cold. It should be a crime not to drink alcohol during winter…」

That one definitely was.

「Yusdrolir: Not to speak how hard it is to get hold of clean wat-」

I put a hand on his shoulder, as I stopped to get a chunk of fresh snow from a nearby pile and offered it to him. It was winter, and it was snowing a lot.

The dwarf rolled his eyes.

「Allen: Also... Valarest is literally surrounded by water streams. Let that sink in.」

He grunted with frustration, which only made me grin harder.

「Yusdrolir: I meant in general! And wipe that grin off yer face, AnDareth’s anvil!」

We resumed walking.

「Allen: Oh, so dwarves have good noses. Elves have good eyes… What perk did us humans get?」

He looked at me and grinned.

「Yusdrolir: Humans… Ye breed too damn fast. Aye.」

He said, nodding to himself. Fair, I guess. Although, I was hoping for a more practical perk.

「Allen: Yusdrolir?」

「Yusdrolir: Hmm?」

『Allen: You can use the magic ring for private conversations. Remember?』

「Yusdrolir: Oh… I had forgotten. Haha.」

The dwarf seemed to have recovered his good humor. Then he cast a sidelong glance at me with a serious expression.

「Yusdrolir: I still think ye should get the heck out of this darn city.」

I wondered what the magic police wanted from me, but I didn’t recall ever doing anything forbidden. I was probably safe.

Or was I?

「Allen: Behold, an Awakened of the Mortal Realm.」

I said, casting my arms upwards striking a dramatic pose. Before even saying hello.

The guys, who had been sitting in the process of eating, turned their heads toward me with a bemused expression. I sighed.

「Allen: Okay, okay. I walked the First Step. How do you not know about the Ashan obscure but totally awesome magical power classification? Some adventurers you are.」

I complained, shaking my head with faked discontent.

「Namrick: Even normal creatures can be Awakened. That’s not such a big achievement, you know?」

Buzzkill.

Yes, Awakened was a common term for anything and anyone who had, well, awakened their mana body and reached the First Step.

Grastel raised a hand while finishing to chew whatever was inside his mouth. He made us wait dramatic seconds.

「Grastel: Walking the First Step… isn’t that, like, the bare minimum to be called a mage? You can’t even throw a fireball yet!」

He said with a hint of sarcasm. Everyone grinned, except me. Where are my praises!? My worst fears were coming true.

「Namrick: Is it like sword mastery ranks? I’m a Silver Sword but I’m close to being promoted to Golden, by the way.」

「Ellin: Congratulations!」

Ellin beamed. Such a good girl.

「Allen: I knew I could count on my disciple.」

「Ellin: I was referring to Namrick.」

She said, grinning. An obvious attempt to tease me. I pretended not to hear.

Yusdrolir and I joined them at the table. He was still fidgety and was casting glances toward the entry door every now and then.

I shouldn’t need to be afraid… unless they found out I’m from another world and want to dissect me alive. I pushed the uneasiness away. Violet is my shield. Have faith in Violet.

「Namrick: Allen, have you ever wondered why I know so many things about mages?」

My swordsman friend said out of the blue, looking at me with a defiant smile.

「Allen: Yes. Every damn day. And every time I ask, you just smile like an idiot.」

Namrick raised his chin, breathing in loudly. That smug bastard.

「Namrick: I was wondering if you would figure it out. You see, you’re like the other mages… and just like other mages you can’t help but boast about your successes, telling and retelling us of your achievements, cleverness, all in unnecessary detail.」

I remained silent for a second, mulling over his words.

「Allen: Am I really that bad?」

I asked, looking from left to right.

「Namrick: Unceasing…」

「Grastel: Unrelenting…」

Ellin exploded in a laugh.

I considered trading my friends for a bunch of like-minded magician nerds. They should be thankful for me sharing my arcane wisdom.

「Allen: What a shame… Looks like my fellow party members no longer want potions and enchantments for the very accessible price of “showering Allen with praises”.」

I said with a faked sorrowful grim tone, stifling a grin.

While my skill set was still limited, I could only but improve, and they knew it. It’s always good to remind your friends not to take things for granted.

Otherwise, you’ll end up being asked to fix random shit on their computers for free, and they won’t even thank you for the time you wasted. Although, maybe those don’t qualify as friends after all…

「Yusdrolir: He’s right, ya know.」

My dwarf pal came to my support. Way to go Yus, tell these brats.

「Ellin: Congratulations, Allen.」

「Namrick: You know, Allen. I don’t really mind hearing mage talk. It reminds me that magicians are dangerous foes. So paying attention can only better my chances of defeating them. Master Fredrick agrees.」

Fredrick? Oh right, the former Royal Sword guy that has taken Namrick as a disciple.

「Allen: Good for you. Anyway…」

I remembered Grohm’s concerns.

「Allen: I heard there’s bad stuff happening in the city. Something about… madness?」

The mood turned sour. People shifted in their seats.

「Grastel: Yes, I heard about it. The Madness. People say it’s a curse brought by the refugees. You become crazy and set yourself on fire.」

Come on baby, light my fire. Some kind of magical STD? Remember to use protection, kids.

Ellin made the face she does when she wanted to say something, but she kept silent.

「Yusdrolir: Demons?」

「Namrick: You can bet on it. Why would anyone else side with them?」

My cynical nature started making lists, but I didn’t think Namrick was ready to accept how greedy and stupid people can be.

「Grastel: Maybe we should leave and wait until it gets sorted out?」

And go where? It was cold outside. Roads were covered with snow. There was no global warming in this world. Yet.

「Allen: I can’t leave even if I wanted to.」

I shrugged. I wouldn’t risk breaking the contract unless I really had to.

No one seemed eager to leave the city. We all had our good reasons to stay.

Had demon agents really infiltrated the city?

Wrong question. What are the chances of anything ever going well?

Zero.